1 A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

A very welcome revival of Olivia Fuchs’s stylish, sexy production of Britten’s magical opera, with William Towers’s saturnine Oberon the pick of the cast. Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Bow Street, WC2 (www.royaloperahouse.org 020-7304 4000), Sat & Mon

2 MADAM BUTTERFLY

Judith Howarth is hugely touching as the abandoned geisha Cio-Cio-San in Carolyn Choa’s revival of Anthony Minghella’s artful staging. London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2 (www.eno.org 0870 1450200), Thur

3 DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE

Don’t miss Simon Keenlyside’s near-definitive portrayal of Papageno in a solid revival of David McVicar’s defiantly sober production, which also boasts Genia Kühmeier as Pamina. Royal Opera House, details left, Wed

4 THE MIKADO

Jonathan Miller’s indestructible production, which turns an Anglicised Japan back into England, returns with Richard Suart in tow as the socially climbing KoKo. London Coliseum, details left, Sat & Fri

5 IOLANTHE

The surprise in the casting of the Carl Rosa Company’s production is Maria Ewing, who turns from operatic heroines such as Salome and Tosca to the wildly contrasting demands of the Fairy Queen. Gielgud Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, W1 (www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk 0844 4825130), from Mon, until Feb 16